MHSC signs U of U agreement
10/30/2012
Dr. Sean Mulvihill, CEO of University of Utah Physician Group and Jerry Klein, CEO of Memorial Hospita listen to David Entwistle, CEO of University of Utah Healthcare, talks about what the recent master affiliation agreement between Memorial Hospital and the U of U means to the community of Sweetwater County.
On the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 30, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and University of Utah Healthcare announced their recent partnership and signing of a master affiliation agreement. David Entwistle, CEO of University of Utah Healthcare, and Dr. Sean Mulvihill, CEO of University of Utah Physician Group, were both in attendance to speak with MHSC board members, staff, physicians, and the media. Artis Kalivas, MHSC Board President, introduced the U of U and spoke about his own family’s personal interaction with the facility. “Many of my family have used the specialists at the U of U. We’ve had great experiences there and we want to use the resources of the U of U to bring that care here to Sweetwater County. This is a big deal.”
The master affiliation agreement is a brief document that outlines the services of both entities and how they will supplement each other to bring quality care and a better experience to the patients of Memorial Hospital. It has come about during ongoing discussions between Mr. David Entwistle (U of U) and Mr. Jerry Klein, CEO at MHSC, for the past year. David Entwistle said, “The University of Utah and Memorial Hospital have had a relationship with our AirMed helicopter and fixed-wing plane transferring patients, long before I came into the picture. With this partnership, we can strengthen that relationship and also figure out solutions to keep the transfers going down and keep that care provided here in Sweetwater County.” The agreement includes 4-pages of potential services that over time will be introduced to the community of Sweetwater County and the surrounding area.
Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County is currently building a new 80,000 square foot, 4-level, medical office building and cancer treatment center adjoining the hospital. It will feature the first cancer treatment center in Southwest Wyoming and also the expansion of several current services that are offered, such as dialysis and cardiopulmonary rehab. This building will also be the potential location for the expansion of services that this recent U of U affiliation agreement will bring to the area. The building has a scheduled opening of Fall 2013. Jerry Klein said, “It’s been a very exciting process for the few of us that have been putting this agreement together. While working with the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah on the plans for the cancer center, I could tell that this was going to lead to something bigger for us. This agreement will change the focus and delivery of healthcare in Sweetwater County. In the two years that I’ve been here I have been committed to listening to the community and bringing the change that I’ve felt is being requested. This agreement is a definitely a huge step in the right direction. I hope the community is just as excited about this as I am.”